Properties of two drug peddlers to be seized

To boost the drive against drug peddlers and to check their financial resources, the district police have got the sanction for seizing the properties of two of the drug smugglers while names of as many six more more convicts lying pending with the home ministry are expected to be cleared.

In addition to this, the district police are preparing the file of 21 more such criminals convicted in cases of drug peddling in district to get permission for seizing their properties.

The two of the drug peddlers whose names have been cleared for this purpose are - Major Singh alias Kapha a resident of Sidhana village and Kuldeep Singh alias Feepa a resident of Dialpura in Bathinda. Both, own properties worth lakhs of rupees allegedly made through illicit trade of contraband have been convicted by the court.

The orders for seizing the properties of those convicted for smuggling banned drugs are passed under the NDPS Act by the union home ministry on the recommendations of the district police under Clauses 21/61/85 of the NDPS Act.

The Bathinda district being a border district sharing boundaries with Haryana and having an easy access to state of Rajasthan has always been prone to drugs trafficking. The district is main route for entering contraband in to Punjab from these two states.

Bathinda SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said that attaching properties of convicts in drugs trafficking cases is a deterrent from stopping these criminals from reaping the financial gains through the illicit trade which helps in checking the drugs trafficking by putting check on financial resources of these convicts.

He said that the order for attaching properties of convicts will be sent to revenue department that will freeze their properties thereby preventing further sale and purchase of the same. He said that competent authorities will take decision about the other names recommended by police to get permission to seize their properties.

Total number of cases under NDPS act from January 1 to December 31, 2013: 757Total accused arrested: 980